The 2017 CMA Awards could have been a disaster, and for a host of reasons. It was obvious heading into the presentation that forces from outside the genre, fueled by political fervor and fanned by bias media, were hellbent on attempting to make the presentation a political spectacle. The CMA exacerbated the issue by attempting to request of the media to avoid political topics, which only made the focus on politics even more imperative for certain media operatives. On the day of the CMAs, Rolling Stone, The Nashville Scene, the LA Times, and others ran think pieces imploring country’s stars to speak out against guns and broach other social issues from the CMA podium to put a charge in the plan to politicize the event under the idea that as a bastion for Trump support, dissent from country music would be a way to undermine Trump’s political base.

And then the presentation started with a highly-touted opening number being sold as a “touching moment” that ultimately was nothing more than an awkward, out-of-place rendition of Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand.” Was a 24-year-old pop song really how the CMAs were going to show respect to the 57 country fans killed in Las Vegas the month previous? Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood’s monologue was well-meaning by trying to make light of the the political tension in the room and even the CMA’s own foolish media request. But aside for a few funny moments, it was more awkward than unguarding, giving attention to the pins and needles everyone rests upon in this divisive political climate, and inadvertently pointing out the precarious political anvil dangling over country music that seems to be waiting to fall and cause country’s cultural demise like we’ve seen with the NFL and other institutions.

Then sound issues saddled some of the early performances, and then add to the mix the mother of all wild cards when Sturgill Simpson showed up outside of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to do a busking routine on Facebook Live, complete with political and anti-Trump rhetoric, and promises to answer any questions posed to him with all proceeds of the tip jar going to the ACLU. With the incensed and ultra-focused mindset of today’s political media, Sturgill immediately became a significant side show, with some outlets stopping down or interrupting their CMA coverage to make Sturgill Simpson the main attraction until his phone battery tanked 45 minutes into the presentation.

But meanwhile inside the Bridgestone Arena, the upper lip stiffened. Country music was able to do what few other cultural institutions in America have been able to do since Election Day and well before, which is show solidarity and unity in the face of dissent and adversity, and not just for themselves, but for the people who are looking for a respite from political turmoil and emotional retention that is plaguing seemingly all sectors of American life.

Regardless of what any one fan thinks about the winners at the 2017 CMA Awards, the acceptance speeches were filled with messages of unity and inclusiveness. Many of the presenters, including comedian Tyler Perry, carried with them to the podium messages of coming together regardless of cultural or political differences. The term “family” was brought up multiple times. And Carrie Underwood, in the middle of the presentation, and taking everyone completely off guard, delivered that promised “touching moment” honoring the victims of the Las Vegas shooting, as well as country music’s fallen greats over the last year, in a performance that will be remembered right up there as one of the greatest moments in the CMA’s 51-year history.

Of course there were flubs and failed performances throughout the night, recipients of awards to second guess, too few women winning awards, and the overall off-putting pageantry of any awards show. But it was pretty remarkable that despite the potential for distraction and turmoil, the CMAs and their purposeful message of unity won the night.

Yet instead of being taken a good example for the rest of the country, multiple media outlets took the solidarity country music evidenced at the 2017 CMA Awards as disappointing, inappropriate, and even insulting. The Guardian said Thursday, “By focusing on what they didn’t want to talk about, the CMAs ended up with a show that lacked any discernible identity.”

But the CMA Awards’ identity was patently clear, and marked by the word on the front of host Brad Paisley’s shirt, “Unity.”

The LA Times said the CMA’s “played it safe at precisely the wrong moment.”

The Washington Post had a similar take, saying country music is “Becoming a soundtrack of a non-existent, apolitical no-place.”

These politically-bias perspectives are based on a frustration, and even anger that country music refuses to get political. And though these outlets are characterizing country music as heading towards irrelevancy if it doesn’t take political stances, viewership for the 2017 CMA Awards was actually up by nearly 2 million viewers from last year’s 50th Anniversary gala, and up from 2015 as well which saw a marquee appearance by Justin Timberlake. It appears that viewers and country fans found the CMA’s unity message favorable as opposed to putting it in a “non-existent no-place” as characterized by The Washington Post.

You have to question the motives, and the moral compass of opinion makers who find a message of unity as an affront to their ideals. Despite these outlets’ rhetoric of open-minded inclusiveness, at the heart of these opinions is a fundamental disrespect for country fans and artists as being uneducated, and unaware of the responsibility they have to take care of each other. These media outlets are taking country music’s understanding of its place in society as an entertainment forum as inaction, uncaring, or ignorance, while country music sees its obligation as giving people a place they can get away from divisiveness.

Country music isn’t unwilling to broach the political, it’s just unwilling to do it as dictated by intellectuals who would use country music’s stars as unwitting pawns to do their political bidding, preaching to their fans bases about things they don’t believe, to an audience that doesn’t want to hear it. It is the seat of arrogance, conceit, and wanton elitism to believe that country stars will take up political subjects in complete opposition to their own principles and views just because someone wants them to. Ultimately this may not be about spreading a political message, but a divide and conquer scheme similar to what we’re seeing with the NFL, and from Russian intervention in American social media. If institutions like country music will not acquiesce to the political will of opinion writers and intellectuals, then they will not be allowed to rest in comfort, and must be roiled with political divisiveness and disruption until country fans are just as unhappy as those stricken with systemic political distemper.

These media opinion makers will also say it is unfair that country stars and fans can ignore political subjects, while marginalized people are not extended that luxury. But nobody is ignoring political subjects, they just see the value in keeping politics a place apart from entertainment. And by asserting country stars and fans are too ignorant or closed-minded to know what’s good for themselves, they are being institutionally marginalized in their own right.

The day after the 2017 CMA Awards, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spoke on record saying they were for reasonable gun laws. A Kacey Musgraves song called “Follow Your Arrow” about inclusiveness was the 2014 CMA Song of the Year. It was co-written by two openly gay country music songwriters, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. And Shane McAnally is arguably the most powerful man in all of country music at the moment as the songwriter and producer du jour behind most of mainstream country’s biggest hits and hottest artists.

Of course country music could use some more diversity, and some new ideas to loosen the collar. Of course there are racists and bigots within the ranks of country fans. Of course country artists and fans should be able to speak free about their political opinions without the fear of the type of retribution we saw with The Dixie Chicks. But the idea that country music needs to jump head first into the contentious political waters as either an industry or an art form is asking for cultural suicide. This is not about making country music a political safe space away from the issues facing life in America today, it’s about respecting the integrity and charge of a musical art form from the overwhelming, and often debilitating infection of politicization.

Music has a unique ability to bridge the gap between people of different mindsets, and unite them through the shared human experience. That is what was on display when Carrie Underwood took the CMA stage on Wednesday night and paid tribute to the 57 victims of gun violence in Las Vegas. Politicizing country music would would mean the marginalization of its effectiveness to unite, if not the marginalization of the art form altogether. Because just like the NFL, if country music becomes a forum for protest, it wouldn’t result in any measurable cultural change. It would just result in people tuning out.

All these leftist news sources ripping country artists for not getting political just boggle my mind. Why should anybody be forced to get political? Some people don’t like talking about it publicly, and, believe it or not, some people just don’t give a crap about it all anyway (crazy, I know). Music awards shows should focus on the music. We’ve had too many celebrities getting up on their soapboxes and ranting about whatever lame agenda they’re endorsing that particular week on these shows the past few years anyway. I’m very glad the CMA’s at least made an effort this year to stick to business.

Trig I will absolutely second that this is one of the best articles you’ve ever written. Well done. It poetically explained a complex situation, and like others said, you hit the nail on the head. Keep up the great work, THIS is why you have a fan in me and many others. Cheers man.

I will also add that last night’s show was one of best overall CMA shows I’ve seen in recent memory. Any night largely free of bro-country is a good start. The entirety of the show somehow came together in proper tone and cohesion throughout. One of the reasons I love country music goes beyond the music to what the industry itself stands for and how it really is friends coming together. I’m reminded of watching Reba on her Master Class about the plane crash; it is one of the most poignant things I’ve ever seen. In that video she discusses the night of the crash and in the days following how folks like Dolly, Vince, and Barbara Mandrell among others all reached out to her camp and said hey take my band, etc. That right there is what country music is, a competitive family of course, but one who looks out for the greater good of country.

Lots of hate tweets were thrown Brad and Carrie’s way because of their Trump joke during the monologue. For cripes sake, we cannot take a harmless joke anymore? They also made fun of the other side. And last year (or couple of years ago?) they joked about Obamacare.

The fact that Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood were attacked for their “anti Trump” jokes prove that country music isn’t an autocracy. Of course it is more conservative than liberal. But it is also both more diverse and accepting than some like to characterize it as.

You could say I’m a hard core conservative but I enjoyed the humor in “Before He Tweets”, in spite of it being a spoof of one of Carrie’s lower quality songs. And “Obamacare By Morning” from 2013 was a classic CMA joke, it was hilarious. I still watch the YouTube clip from time to time.

Chris Richards of the Washington Post is the guy who basically said Sam Hunt should have won some of the awards that Chris Stapleton took at the 2015 CMAs, and that Maren Morris was making great country music.

So in other words, the cited piece is just him pushing his credibility even further down the shitter.

Yep. He dismissed Stapleton as a “country music beardie” and in his review of a Jason Isbell/Holly Williams show at the 9:30 club, which had to be one of best shows I’ve ever been too, spent the vast majority of his review pushing his “theory” of “undislikability” and how Isbell fits the bill, as well as people like John Prine. In other words, safe, feel good music that doesn’t challenge the listener. And yes, Isbell played Elephant that night. Basically, I think if there’s not enough obvious sizzle to grab on to (e.g., he likes Sturgill but has little use for Stapleton and Isbell), he’s not interested.

I try to respect everyone’s opinion, but part of the problem here is that these are pop reporters who are reporting on country music, so they bring their pop tastes, and pop sensibilities to a format they’re unfamiliar with. That’s why they think Sam Hunt is so great, and traditional country is overrated, because Sam fits their tastes. To say you were against the CMA’s theme this year and they should have been more politically challenging is one thing. To say there was NO theme when the theme was being pushed all night in flaming letters proves a bias. And when they call the show “boring” or “non-existent” (as WaPo did), they’re just speaking from their own reality tunnel, instead of trying to understand the format and the nuances of what they were up against. We saw this same thing with the whole “Beyonce gone country” controversy. These people only know country from the outside looking in, and judge country fans as Southern hayseeds incapable of open, independent thought. If WaPo and others want to cover country music, hire a country music writer or freelancer. Even if they criticize the CMAs, at least those opinions will hold weight, and factor in a deeper understanding of the genre.

There was a TON that I did not like about the 2017 CMAs too. But under incredible pressure, and with the whole world watching and scrutinizing, they put on a presentation that showed a lot of heart and respect for the challenges we face today.

Carrie’s absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful rendition of Softly and Tenderly did it for me. I had tears running down my face for most of the song, and when she broke down herself and could not do the last few lines, those tears turned into a waterfall. It showed the true, glorious, faith-filled heart of a girl from a small town here in Oklahoma that we are SO proud of, paying tribute in a way she has known how to her entire life. It evoked her performance a few years ago with another Okie, Vince Gill, of How Great Thou Art that filled me with chills. It truly was the greatest moment ever in the history of the CMA’s.

This is off topic but you should check out Steven Colbert’s spoof of Keith Urban new song Female. Exposes how mainstream country music is so shallow. It amazes me how anyone can write those lyrics and think it was deep.

Its because when it comes down to it, Keith Urban has very little talent. He has only gotten to where he is because Music Row fixed his teeth, gave him a haircut, and told everyone what an amazing guitar player he was.

Dude’s music catalogue is pathetically bad and lacking depth. I’m utterly amazed he is still relevant.

The major media doesn’t even pretend to be objective anymore — a development that is one of the saddest, most divisive elements in our society today.

“If institutions like country music will not acquiesce to the political will of opinion writers and intellectuals, then they will not be allowed to rest in comfort, and must be roiled with political divisiveness and disruption until country fans are just as unhappy as those stricken with systemic political distemper.”

This belief is shared by many on the left, and it is destroying our nation.

True that the major media is no longer objective and makes no attempt to hide it. But that goes for both sides. Fox is just as biased as CNN and MSNBC. You can tune into Don Lemon on CNN and get far left propaganda, then switch over to Hannity and get far-right conspiracy theory crap.

Agreed. This was an issue from the right when Obama was in office. However in the last year, politics has become so effusive, there is no escaping it now. Everything is a political action. By avoiding politics, the CMA was making a political statement, even if they didn’t want to. Country Music, just like every entertainment form, should resist this politicization, because it’s not just an existential threat to the genre, the divisiveness is a threat to our country. That is why foreign entities are fueling it through social media.

It’s amazing what three chords and the truth can do.
Miranda’s performance was amazing.
Carrie’s performance was transcendent.
I’m sure the “industry” was trying to pull the same fake unity crap as the NFL, but it was the music, real country music, that brought people together.

What the fuck has any of that done to better our situation? Kids, children, are being shot dead in their classrooms. Going to a concert? The movie theater? Church? You may get shot in the head. Chances are now better than getting struck by lightning. And you want Unity?!

Like the Republicans of ole, country music used to be for the people. Johnny Cash sang about the mistreatment of the Native Americans and rights of the locked-up. Willie Nelson has been fighting for the American farmers for 32 years. Country music used to be about protecting the blue collar worker: unions, wages, less taxation.

We don’t need unity. We needed a Tim McGraw or Carrie Underwood to stand up to our government, lobbyists, and the NRA say enough is enough and let’s try to put an end to this public health epidemic.

There used to be a time when kids were kept up in the attic until they were 16 years old. They weren’t allowed to walk around in good families. Home school was everything and what they watched and listened to was considered. How much do you expect? You want military posted outside the movie theaters now. Please woman, stay in your house. Quit worrying about what Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood have to say. That stuff is for the middle class.

Unity is what the NRA wanted. They were a little nervous after Las Vegas because a few D level country artists walked back on their gun views. If an A lister country music artist spoke up for responsible gun ownership reform, we’d be talking today.

Here’s a what Ketch Secor has to say about artists speaking up:

Yesterday, Ketch Secor, the lead singer of Old Crow Medicine Show and a former CMA nominee, called on his more mainstream brothers and sisters to speak up.

“You have to be made of iron to not look at Las Vegas and think something has got to change,” Secor said. “These artists that are selling out arenas… many of whom are the very folks who have been so reluctant to talk about gun control. They can be the voice of reason that can help facilitate the conversation.”

As for you home schooling and children in the attic comments, I have no idea what your talking about.

You and Ketch are taking for granted what these artists might say if they do speak up. It may not be what you want them to say. In fact, it’s very likely going to be to the contrary to what you want them to say, only making their fans dig in more, which would be counter-productive to what all of these folks clamoring for stars to speak out about. You’re trying to impose an ideal on people whose thoughts you cannot control. As well-intentioned as it might be, it’s irrational.

That is what you want hoptowntiger, people like you are to stubborn and too self-important to consider any other perspective. There is no public health epidemic, that is hype, if millions of people were being shot then we could consider that an epidemic. It is not a country singers role to police gun control or to propose solutions to societie’ s woes, and like you, they would be the last one qualified to do so. If you are not willing to reasonably debate and compromise, then you bring nothing to the table but more problems.
“Country music isn’t unwilling to broach the political, it’s just unwilling to do it as dictated by intellectuals who would use country music’s stars as unwitting pawns to do their political bidding, preaching to their fans bases about things they don’t believe, to an audience that doesn’t want to hear it.” This is a very insightful quote. I agree that this is one of the best articles that you have written.
Sturgill made me angry at first, inserting divisive politics into country music and following the example of unqualified college students in aimless protest. But the more I thought about it, I realized that this is a product of the position that he is in. Besides the stereotyping Trump voters and inadvertent backhanded comment about Cody Jinks, nothing he did was worth scrutinizing. I was wrong to get angry, if this had been solely about CMAs promoting trash music, I would have thought it was the most awesome thing I ever saw. To all His fans that keep saying Strurgill does not care what we think, you must put him on a pretty high pedestal. He is human and in a position that requires our attention, why else would he have done the whole thing?

I’m 41 years old. I was a starch pro-gun advocate – guns don’t kill people, people kill people – until Sandy Hook. Then I realized nothing is going to change. The NRA isn’t going to police itself and lobbyists have paid their way through government. So, I’m not being close-minded, stubborn or self-absorbed. I’ve been around 41 years and there has been zero compromise from anyone on the gun problem this country has – zero.

When toddlers are being shot in church pews, I classify it as a health epidemic. 76 people died in a month span due to two mentally disabled gun owners. That’s way more people killed by guns than the bird flu.

Do you really think your abrasive, combative tone is going to solve anything? You ask for compromise, but your style of argumentation is only going to make both sides set their feet in deeper. In reality, it’s that sort of confrontational attitude that makes compromise impossible in the real world, you want to get people to change their minds? Stop shouting at them and denigrating their way of life. Stop telling them that they’re wrong and you’re right. You want something done, find common ground, and work with it in a respectful manner, even if you lack respect for their ideals.

Shouting at people and insulting them is not going to institute any meaningful change, other than to ensure that our society continues to Balkanize and separate further, demolishing the tattered strains of what is left of our civic culture.

All I see is an explanation of his stance and why it has changed over time. He also mentioned that attempts at compromise have not worked.
How do we achieve compromise when one side is unwilling to even come to the table on this issue?

For starters, get lobbyists out of our government officials’ pockets to make the debate even. The NRA spends billions a year influencing legislation.
………..

I agree ALL lobbyists should be removed from DC, including those who lobby for the renewable energy programs, and things I disapprove of like the ones who sell weapons of mass destruction to the military and local cops and the ones who sell crap to the TSA. Farm subsidies. Educational institutions. Insurance co’s.. It’s a long list. But, how would that prevent killers from killing? Or even help prevent it?

Law abiding gun owners did not kill these kids. Criminals committed these atrocities. Law abiding citizens should not lose their rights because criminals committed crimes. Law abiding gun owners are not the problem. They do not deserve to be penalized for crimes they did not commit.

Alright, to all the people who want to keep bashing others who have left-leaning beliefs like I do, let me tell you something, I came down here because as a young man who likes Country music, I grew tired of the Nashville people shoving these beer commercial songs down my radio stations throat, I admit I take music very seriously and want to listen to people who do the same.

But for you guys to outright bash my beliefs, it’s becoming blatantly obvious that maybe I don’t belong here anymore. Unless you guys want to convince me otherwise, I do not want to come to a place where it’s readers spew out nothing but Conservative Correctness.

I probably share a lot of your beliefs for what it’s worth. I don’t talk about them a whole lot here just because I need a break from talking about politics every minute of the day. I hope you stay. People tend to be respectful of each other here. The Sturgill thread got heated but that’s to be expected. I still really enjoy reading and posting here.

I think Trig is extremely fair at presenting both sides of topics and the commentators are 50/50 (liberal/conservative). People just type outlandish shit when they can hide behind a their electronic devices.

I can’t speak for the other commenters, though there seems to be both sides represented here, but I do not choose sides in this debate, solely for the benefit of readers. It’s not that I do not have political opinions, but I try to keep them out of my coverage of any issue. The one universal maxim I bring to all of these stories is that music should be a place apart from the divisiveness of politics. If artists want to broach political subjects, that’s their choice, and their right. But demanding them to in my opinion is inappropriate, and wouldn’t lead to any substantial change, only more conflict.

Loved the article. I think I have said this on here a million times but I wish we could all be nicer to each other. If you love or can’t stand an artist, it doesn’t mean you need to question another person’s taste. We all like different things. I hope you from 10 years ago liked different things than you do now.

I don’t think any political speeches either way are going to change any minds. Instead, respect those differences and see we go about solving problems in a different way.

Well the unity and country family is taking a hit with twitter and instagram going nuts over Miranda’s boyfriend taking a dump on Garth Brooks. Then Miranda jumps in and supports him angering even more people.

I made fun of Garth myself and I do enjoy the drama but it feels wrong to shit on Garth after he sang Miranda’s praises at the CMAs. Ate least Garth was honest and upfront over why he lip synched.

I got news for you Mike, I’m 28 years old, a lot of kids like myself were young tots when Garth toured in the 90’s and many of us didn’t get a chance to see him when he took his hiatus. Hell I didn’t my chance til my senior year 2007/08 when he did his show in KC.

So to answer your question: yes young punks like myself are actually going to Garth concerts, some even making the trips with their parents.

Really great article. I finally saw the whole thing. I’m a pretty political person but it was nice to see one show where the whole show wasn’t a rant fest. I’m actually dreading this year’s oscars for this reason. Other thoughts, I thought Miranda looked and sounded beautiful. She is so good. Chris Stapleton was amazing as usual, thank heavens. I also was really impressed by Brothers Osbourne. Keith Urban seems like a nice guy but that song was so bad it made me laugh until I cried. I guess that’s good? Also, Alan Jackson, so much yes! Seriously, people need a break from the stuff we listen to every day and this was a pretty good one.

This reaction from mainstream pundits is disappointing, but not at all surprising. I remember back in February, even Lady Gaga got criticized for not getting political during her Super Bowl Halftime performance. She very clearly said during the show that she just wanted to make people feel good, dang God Bless America before her songs, and delivered a very unifying message. That’s really just not what these people want. They just want everything to be a massive political statement. I loved what the CMAs gave me Wednesday.

Chris Richards. who wrote the Post piece, is their main pop music critic. Whenever he writes about country music, it seems to me that he’s stepping out of his lane, but lacks the humility to realize it. Even more so with this political article.

Oh OK Hop Town Tiger, I’m sold on giving police ultimate control because of the tragedy that went down in Sandy Hook. It’s just awful what people with personality disorder can do, we are helpless now and need more government surveillance in our lives! I agree let the police into our living rooms we don’t want another Sandy Hook tragedy. It works in other countries, no guns, personality disordered people with all the power, why wouldn’t it work here?

The actions toward the Dixie Chicks by fans and radio producers set the entire genre back years, if not more. I don’t need to hear Tim McGraw voice his opinion, but I also think it’s insane that an artist cannot speak out without fear for their career being torpedoed by morons with no critical thinking skills or are so fragile in their beliefs that anyone who goes against them must be burned at the stake (that goes for both political sides).

The reason it set the genre back is now we can’t have ANY political message in our mainstream songs. That sucks. Take a listen to some of Tom T. Hall’s old songs regarding Vietnam or Nixon and think about the fact we have had a dearth of notable songs come out talking about modern political/social issues from a mainstream (as in radio-played) Country artist. That’s a shame.

I’m not saying an artist SHOULD write those songs, but they also shouldn’t be afraid to speak their mind or present a topical message if they so choose. Instead we get 99,000 truck songs and the Country genre gets further labeled as the genre of dumb, ignorant morons by the mainstream press. Yay.

The main stream press are the ones who incite with their “we’re right and you’re wrong” attitude which empowers others to say the same. Having political messages in songs will never go away unless the main stream media has its way, and to them if it’s anything other than their narrow minded view then it’s evil. It’s out of the song messages people are complaining about which the main stream press demands entertainers should do. The main stream press wouldn’t know Tom T hall from Snow White. They are pseudo intellectuals who believe (because they paid schools to tell them) they are the only ones who can possibly be right. And they couldn’t possibly be more wrong.

the only unity here was a complete and unanimous disrespect towards Country Music past present and future.

did they try a little harder?

maybe.

but next time let’s do the Glen Campbell award as the highlight at the end, have everyone only perform Campbell and Williams covers for the whole show.

and get rid of Pink.

GOD if I wanted to here a 13 year old’s music I’d listen to Puke Bryan. Pink and Beyonce can both go fall into a ditch. overated untalented and incredibly disrespectful.

but really I am kinda happy, I feel like they actually tried to care about quality music and about artistry instead of ratings this time.

And it shows, instead of publicizing everything and trying to be all marketed they let the industry as a whole make a statement and they heard Cambpell covers it was actually a lot nicer than last year.

Great piece, Trigger. The unity, inclusiveness, and family spirit that seemed to exist in the Bridgestone Arena that night was palpable as I was watching from hundreds of miles away. Although there were missteps during the show (aren’t there always during the awards shows?), everyones’ hearts were in the right place and I think it was one of the better CMA shows in recent years. (Not to mention the added benefits of Sam Hunt, FGL, and Luke Bryan all going home empty-handed. :)) Thank you for this piece.